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@with tatrjateat @Iv-ffies.

A. J, ADAMS, OF PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNORATO HIMSELF ANDBOYD' P. OUINOY, or SAME PLACE.

Letters .Patent No. 77 ,157, dated April 28, 1868.

vnureoven ANIMAL-TRAP'.

T0 ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known thatL'A. J. ADAMS, of Portland, inthe countyof Multnomah, and State of Oregon, haveinvented a new'and improved Animal-Trap; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andv exactdcscription thereof, which will enable `others skilled in theart to make and use thel same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming .part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my trap when set.

Figure 2 is a view of the trap when sprung.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. y

This invention consists in providing `the extremities of a circular spring with hooks, and extending them apart, by means of-two flattened props, which are fitted with a device for maintaining' them as set, as will be more fully shown and explained. Y

'A is a'b'ase or pedestal, having the spring C secured to the middle of a cross-piece, E. The spring is attached at its middle also, and themanner of attaching the same, namely, a'cap-piece, D, riveted over the springs, thus' avoiding the weakening ofthe spring by a hole, is shown in the drawing. Both ends of the spring are armed with a claw, N, of two hooks, and the clawsare'attac'hed by boltspand nuts, shown at e e in both figures.

v The hooksgH H, of each claw are attached to a shank, K, which is bolted to the spring, as aforesaid, and

the rear of this shank isvtted with a hinge, by which a movable treadle, T T', is attached. y

These treadles 'are triangular surfaces, and their bases or free ends, when placed in horizontal contact, serve to keep the claws extended apart, as shown in iig. 1, i

vUr'iderneath the edges of contact of the tread'les, there extends a projection, P, forming a part ofthe trcadlc T. This forms a bearing fol` the otherl treadle, T, whereby both are kept in a horizontal position, thus holding the hooks apart, for thehinge-oontrcs and the edges ofthe treadles are not in a true line, the edges being a very little raised, thus bringing the projection Pto bear against the treadle T, and steady both treadles.

A set-screw, m, is placed in the projection P, for the purpose of adjusting the line of the hinge-centres und contact of the edges, so that, by thrusting the screw against the treadle T, the`"line of said centres and contact will bo made to'approach more nearly to a straight line, where the delicacy of the adjustment will bc increased, and but a very smallpressure upon the upper face of the treadls sufice to spring the trap. -Two holes, r r, in the treadle T', are for securing the bait thereto by a string.

In scttingvthe trap, the bait is placed upon vthe treadles, and secured tno one of them. The edges are placed in contact, as before described.

Thevboit is then `midway between the two claws, and the animal, attracted bythe bait, in bringing his' weight, or a portion ot' it, upon the treadles, or by bearing upon them with his head, or in any other way pressing the trcadles out of their line of equilibrium, ,thus springs the trap.

The hooks of each claw are antagonistic to thoseof the other, and, when sprung together, strike intowhat; ever is in the space above the trendles shown by iig. 2. When t-h`e trap is sprung, the treadles hang verticallywithin the branches of the spring C. i f

The treadles can be inverted by unscrewing the pins forming part of their hinges,and replacing them with the treadles in an inverted position, whereby th'c 'cla-ws can be 'made to operate when inverted also, thus making `the trapavailable in-both positions. v l

The advantages claimed for this invention are its simplicity, durability, andA inexpensive character.

I c'aim as new, and desire to secureiby Letters PatentA The spring C and claws K, in combination with thehinged treadles and the base A E, all constructed,

wronged, and operating substantially as described. A; J'. ADAMS.- Witnesses:

H. C. BENSON, S. G. BENSON. 

